Early Morning can rise to challenge at Ascot

Harry Dunlop's four-year-old has been thoroughly consistent throughout his career with the fifth place he notched on his racecourse bow back in 2013 the only occasion he has finished out of the first four.

While he has regularly hit the frame, Early Morning has just two wins to his credit in nine starts, with his first victory coming at Kempton back in April of this year.

A couple of subsequent placed efforts showed he was more than capable off his new mark in the late 80s and lining up off 89 at Haydock last time out, Early Morning eventually got his head in front again.

He saw off Manchestar by just over two lengths over a mile that day, but the winning margin does not really do him justice as he could be called the winner a fair way from home and was eased down at the line.

That effort has not escaped the notice of the handicapper who raised him 11lb to a mark of 100 and while that new perch obviously presents a much stiffer task, Early Morning still appears to be on an upward curve and can rise to the challenge.

Steel Train has all the hallmarks of a typical David O'Meara improver as he lines up in the Betfred "Text IJF To 78000 To Donate £5" Handicap at Haydock.

Formerly trained in France, the four-year-old changed hands for just 9,500 euros last November but did not surface until Doncaster in May, where he got a good sighter before scoring at Thirsk later that month.

Steel Train has had just two starts since then with a disappointing performance at Doncaster in June firmly consigned to the past as he returned to action with a fair second at Thirsk last month.

The Zafeen gelding should strip fitter for that run and O'Meara has a real skill of ekeing out further improvement from this type of animal.

Landwade Lad can repeat his course and distance success of last week in the 32Red Handicap at Kempton.

The three-year-old had been working up to a win for James Fanshawe and he made it fifth-time lucky this term when running out a convincing three-and-a-quarter-length winner last time.

He produced a telling turn of foot that day and a 6lb penalty may not be enough to stop him.

Real Smart hails from a Group One-winning family and although she is not of that calibre, she should be good enough in the Stonbury Maiden Stakes at Newcastle.

She stayed on strongly when third over seven furlongs on her debut at Chepstow last month so this step up to a mile looks a logical move.

Billy Ranger has been knocking on the door but his time can come in the visiteastlothian.org Handicap at Musselburgh.